Wood Identification for Hardwood and Softwood Species Native to Tennessee
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Agricultural Extension Service The University of Tennessee PB1692 Wood Identification for Hardwood and Softwood Species Native to Tennessee 1 Contents Introduction 3 Wood Surfaces 3 Macro Cross-section Characteristics 4 Preparing the Wood Surface 4 Separating Hardwoods from Softwoods 4 Hardwoods 6 Growth Ring Pore Arrangement 6 Vessel (Pore) Arrangement 6 Wood Rays 7 Tyloses 7 Parenchyma 7 Color, Odor and Density 8 Softwoods 8 Resin Canals 8 Growth Rings: Earlywood and Latewood 8 Color, Odor and Density 9 Summary 9 Other Publications Related to Wood Identification 10 Wood ID: Species Characteristics 11 Ring-Porous Hardwoods 11 Semi-Ring-Porous Hardwoods 12 Diffuse-Porous Hardwoods 12 Softwood Identification 12 Softwood Key 14 Hardwood Key 15 2 Wood Identification for Hardwood and Softwood Species Native to Tennessee Brian Bond, Assistant Professor, and Peter Hamner, Research Associate Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries The University of Tennessee Introduction hand lens (10x) can be used to distinguish the different cell types and their arrangements. By This publication provides information on how using the proper techniques, you can become to identify wood of several species common to efficient and accurate at wood identification. Tennessee by using a hand-magnifying lens. In- cluded in this publication are a wood identification key for some common Tennessee species, a list of Wood Surfaces key specie characteristics and a list of companies Most of the wood cell structure characteristics that sell wood identification sample sets. discussed in this publication are best viewed from Tennessee has a rich variety of tree species, the cross-section surface of the wood. Wood and the wood produced from each of these has surfaces are classified into three categories, or unique structure, physical and mechanical proper- geometric planes of reference, that indicate the ties. The differences in wood structure and proper- type of surface uncovered after a cut has been ties allow for the manufacture of wood-based made. The three reference planes are the cross products with many different appearances and section, radial section and tangential section. uses. Since wood is a popular and useful material, Figure 1 depicts the three reference planes of it is important that enthusiasts and professionals be wood. The cross section is produced by cutting the able to distinguish the wood of one species from cells perpendicular to the direction of growth in the another. For example, how would a barrel manu- tree. The cross section is the same surface seen on facturer tell the difference between red oak, which doesn’t hold liquids, and white oak, which does? Wood of a particular species can be identi- Planes of Reference fied by its unique features. These features include strength, density, hardness, odor, texture and Cross-Section Surface color. Reliable wood identification usually re- quires the ability to recognize basic differences in cellular structure and wood anatomy. Each species has unique cellular structure that creates differ- ences in wood properties and ultimately deter- Annual Growth Ring mines the suitability for a particular use. Cellular Increment characteristics provide a blueprint for accurate (annual ring) wood identification. Wood is composed of many small cells and its structure is determined by the type, size, shape and Radial Surface Tangential arrangement of these cells. The structure and Surface characteristics of wood can vary between species and within the same species. With practice, a small Figure 1. Three-dimensional orientation of wood material. 3 a stump after felling a tree. It is important to tion. The development of the wood material inside determine which reference plane you are viewing a growth ring is caused by the changes that occur when identifying wood, because cell structure is during the growing season. Earlywood, or three-dimensional and varies based on orientation. springwood, is formed in the spring and early summer at the beginning of the growing season Macro Cross-section when warm and wet conditions promote rapid growth. Earlywood cells have large diameters and Characteristics thin cell walls. Latewood, or summerwood, is By cutting a tree and exposing the cross formed in late summer and fall toward the end of section, you can observe the bark, phloem (bark- the growing season when dryer conditions slow the producing layer), cambium (a thin layer inside the development of new wood growth. Latewood bark where cell division takes place) and xylem occurs at the outer region of a growth ring, and is (sapwood and heartwood) (Figure 2). The heart- characterized by cells with greatly thickened cell wood is the darker-colored material that is formed walls and narrow diameters. in the center of the tree. Although heartwood is formed in the tree center, it may not occur uni- Preparing the formly across the surface of the section. The heartwood contains extractives, which are the Wood Surface chemical components that give cedar its pleasant To view the cellular characteristics of wood, aroma, redwood its decay resistance and walnut its it is very useful to have a 10-power (10x) hand dark color. The sapwood surrounds the heartwood lens to magnify the section you are looking at. and is lighter-colored. The size and width of the Preparation of the wood surface is important and sapwood will vary greatly between species. For can affect your ability to locate and identify example, the sapwood of locust is a very narrow specific cell types. The cross section is the best outer band and the sapwood of black cherry is very section to begin your observation of the cell wide. The color and odor of heartwood can also be structure in wood. To prepare a cross section for useful in identifying certain species like redcedar, viewing, make a thin, clean cut with a razor blade sassafras and black walnut. or sharp knife. Make the cut across the surface at a Another feature that can be observed when slight angle. It is important not to take off too viewing the cross section is the growth rings. A much material or to cut too deeply. You are better growth ring represents one year of wood forma- to make several thin slicing cuts to enlarge the viewing area rather than trying to make one large cut. Using a dull blade or cutting too deeply will Woody Stem Nomenclature create a poor surface and mask otherwise useful identifying features. Only a small area with a few growth rings is needed for adequate observation and identification. Identifying wood is a process of elimination. The best strategy is to search for particular features that will help you to categorize the species or group of species withe those features, and thus eliminate others that do not. The use of an identifi- cation key can be helpful for this separation. A wood identification key is provided for the species discussed in this publication. Separating Hardwoods Phloem Sapwood Heartwood from Softwoods Outer bark Cambium After preparing a surface to view, the first Figure 2. Primary layers of wood tissue through the step is to determine whether a specimen is soft- diameter of a tree. wood or a hardwood. The terms softwood and 4 hardwood are used to reference the taxonomical How to prepare a good surface division that separates a species and have little to for viewing wood structure do with the actual hardness of the wood. Hardwood with a hand lens trees have broad leaves and are deciduous – they lose their leaves at the end of the growing season. • A sharp blade is required for good surface prepara- Hardwoods are angiosperms – using flowers to tion. A razor blade is best. pollinate for seed reproduction. Oaks, maples, • A good clean surface is one where cells have been birches and fruit trees are examples of hardwood cleanly cut rather than torn. trees. Softwood trees are conifers (evergreens), • Do not cut too deep. Deep cuts will resort in torn have needles or scale-like foliage and are not fibers in the wood section and possible injury to deciduous. Softwoods are gymnosperms, meaning your hands and fingers! they do not have flowers and use cones for seed • Only a few growth rings on the cross section are reproduction. Examples of softwoods include needed. pines, spruces, firs and hemlocks. • Wetting the surface with water can be helpful in Softwood cellular structure is simple and 90- getting a good, clean section. 95 percent of the cells are longitudinal tracheids. Longitudinal tracheids function in water conduc- tion and support. The limited number of cell types makes softwoods more difficult to differentiate extremely large and numerous. Other species, such from one another. as yellow-poplar, gum and birch, have vessel Hardwood structure is more complex than elements that are uniform in size and number, and softwood structure, and varies considerably be- are evenly spaced throughout the growth ring. By tween species. The majority of hardwood volume using a hand lens, you can determine if vessel is composed of fiber cells that offer structural elements are present or not, thus separating hard- support to the stem. The major difference between woods from softwoods. Figure 3 illustrates the hardwoods and softwoods is the presence of vessel three dimensional differences between hardwood elements, or pores, that exist in hardwoods only. and softwood cell structure. The main function of vessel elements is water After determining whether a wood sample is a conduction. Vessel elements can vary greatly in hardwood or softwood – based on the presence or size, number and spacing from one species to absence of vessel elements – we can begin to look another, and from earlywood to latewood. Some more closely at other cell types for further assis- species, like oak, have vessel elements that are tance with identification. Hardwood Softwood earlywood thick-walled thin-walled tracheids tracheids latewood vessel latewood earlywood resin cells fibers ray cells ray cells Figure 3.